Painting technique

[Splinter]

Been tidying the body on the golf, colour coding, new side skirts, de-rusting etc. What techniques to people recommend?

You can see in my picture this morning (with camera flash) that the Dragon green pearl colour match isn't quite right on front bumper, but got a great factory finish just using aerosols, with no lacquer ripples & high gloss finish.

For anyone doing this; I rubbed down whole of bumper starting with P180 grit wet'n'dry, until black bits smooth. I used standard body primer as a decent base, followed by hi-build grey primer (a whole large can) with mild wet smoothing between each layer. Three thin coats of green. One coat of lacquer, flattened after a few hours with 1800-2000 wet, then a final coat of lacquer which I'm still flattening with wet'n'dry, followed by rubbing compound (or G3), finished with a good polish. F.Bumper, sideskirts & wing; Cost £32 in materials, including small tin of filler. approx. 5 hours actual labour time over 2-3 nights. Put cans in hot water for high pressure spray.

Anyone like to comment on the colour match? Is it the crap aerosol colour match or me? I should pop up and ask my m8 really who's a sprayer but don't want his sarcasm!! I'm mainly concerned because I've prepared my lower front wing (rust & dent gone) but gotta spray that green next and blend it in!

[Splinter]

...oops, finally got it right! here's the photo!

[monkeyalan]

you'll never get a proper match with off the shelf cans and pearl paint. I think someone on here mentioned places that will mix the proper shade for you like DIY places do if you take a specifc colour to copy. good luck  

[Splinter]

I thought so. No car shop within a twenty mile radius from me mix's paint, that's why I ended up getting cans off the shelf.

Didn't think it was worth a few hundered quid to finally get a compressor, equipment & paint, but I'd like one.

[Mr Blue]

Looks like a nice finish to me

It also depends on the age of the paint. I bought a mixed can for mine and its spot on.

[Splinter]

I'm more than pleased with the finish for the bumpers. Its as good as factory spec to look at before I've even finished flattening/polishing. I don't think it will stone chip either (all being well) I'm tempted to do a full re-spray. (Not!)

Just hope I can do the same for the wing, but I think I'm best getting the paint mixed.

[Mart8V]

What's the best way to blend? Have to have a go at a few small areas over the summer (rear panel between bumper and boot going pink....) and will have a few days to spare.

[monkeyalan]

spray the whole panel. If  I remember correctly the ends of that panel meet seems (?). It's not that big an area and it'll look better than blending.(unless you're really good )

[Mart8V]

Problem is that there has been a respray around the rear arches as well.  Not obvious unless you look closely, but there are some tornado pink patches next to the trim.  Will certainly have to do the main panel, as there is some rust bubbling under the rear light set so back to bare metal there.

Might have to try blending somehow, although I doubt I am any good!  Would go to a paint shop, but cost a real factor at moment.

[monkeyalan]

may aswell give it a go.  just mask off the area you're spraying, do your undercoat, unmask and sand it down. mask off again but a slightly bigger area , spray it , leave it a few days at least , then its a case of elbow grease and t-cut.